Ollie Norburn seeking proof of Shrewsbury Town progress

The form table since Cotterill took over in late November shows Shrewsbury seventh in League One.

But, with the manager still recovering from ill-health in Bristol, Town remain 17th ahead of this evening’s clash at Oxford United (7pm).

Norburn and fellow players have stated their desire to climb above the position Town have occupied for a number of months and the captain wants to start seeing more signs of progress in the third tier standings. He says a clear aim is to better 15th, achieved under Sam Ricketts on a points-per-game formula after last season was cut short.

“It has to be the target, especially now,” Norburn said of beating last season’s finish under Ricketts.

“If we are going to progress then let’s at least see it – and the only way we can see that now is by finishing better than last season.

“That’s got to be the aim and then next season we can progress from that.”

The captain conceded that a late play-off charge is out of Town’s reach. But his close friend and midfield colleague Josh Vela said this week that a top-half finish was still achievable.

Norburn added: “That (record) just shows that we will be fighting at the right end of the table if that is the case.

“But sadly it’s a 46-game season.

“It’s a good job he implemented everything when he came in, he was relentless, the whole set-up, so everything has stayed similar with slight additions. The gaffer is still relentless, just over a speaker.”

Norburn, 28, is determined to make something more of his time in Shrewsbury. He recently passed 100 games for the club, but admits the team have ‘not achieved anything’.

And the Salop skipper is craving success. He added: “I enjoy it here, I like it here, I just want a bit of success here, for everyone really.

“The last three seasons we haven’t been able to achieve anything, but let’s just hope next season we can. I’ll always give my everything and just want to achieve something.”

Shrews’ record under Cotterill – and even without him physically on the sidelines – has whet the appetite for the manager’s full season in charge next term.

“Definitely it can be exciting, you can see at his past clubs, like Bristol City, look at the players he brought in and where they are playing now,” Norburn said.

“That’s what happens with success, the lads here under contract want to be on the journey and out of contract what to be fighting to be on the journey.

“It’s hopefully going to be good times ahead, with the gaffer bringing his own players in the summer, it’s interesting and ones that everyone wants to be a part of.”

Shrewsbury, meanwhile, remain without defender Aaron Pierre and wing-back Josh Daniels for the trip to the Kassam Stadium.

It is a first meeting of the season against the U’s, for a clash that was postponed for Town’s FA Cup commitments. Oxford head to Montgomery Waters Meadow on May 1.

Pierre and Daniels are both missing owing to calf problems. Coach David Longwell said yesterday both are with the physio team but not quite ready to return to the fold.